Question: There is a metal plate that is about 1 inch above the grade and spans the entire bike lane of the northbound Mukilteo Speedway, at about the 11200 block.
After highway work a couple of years ago, there were numerous plates across the bike path. They have all been replaced with access hatches that are flush with the roadway.
There’s just this one exception.
Previously this plate had a caution barrel that warned you of its presence and caused you to swerve into traffic to avoid it. That’s gone now.
I still swerve around the plate when it’s safe to do so. If a biker is not aware that the plate is there, he or she could be seriously hurt by the abrupt edge of the plate. It doesn’t help that cars on the highway routinely travel at more than 50 miles per hour.
Is there a reason why this plate has never been replaced with a more biker-friendly solution?
Eric Werttemberger, Mukilteo
Answer: We installed storm water detention vaults to clean the runoff from the newly widened Highway 525.
The steel plates in the bike lane cover a failed storm water vault hatch. The hatches were not designed to handle vehicle loads, but cars have been driving in the bike lane, which caused damage to the hatches.
In early 2007, we will replace these 18 damaged hatches with others that can withstand vehicle loads.
Until we are done designing and installing these hatches, the steel plates will remain in the bike lane with reflective orange tubes on each plate to alert bicyclists.
Originally we had barrels on the plates to caution bicyclists, but they took up a large portion of the bike lane. The tubes are narrow so cyclists can use the bike lane and ride over the plates.
Janice Fahning, state Department of Transportation engineer
Smokey Point a problem
Question: Just when the traffic problems at Smokey Point were getting better, they plopped in new stores on the west side of the freeway. Now the traffic is just as bad as it was before the new 172nd Street NE bridge was built.
I want to know if there is an end in sight.
There should be another in and out access to the area of the new stores that does not become routed onto 172nd Street NE. Do you know what the plans might be?
C. Boob, Marysville
Answer: While we cannot control development in this region, state Department of Transportation engineers are doing what they can to improve highways to keep drivers safe and traffic moving.
In 2009 we will add a new two-lane loop ramp, add turn lanes and widen several existing ramps at the Smokey Point interchange.
When this project is completed in 2010, drivers will see two eastbound through lanes, in addition to the left-turn lane to northbound I-5. This $23 million project is partially funded by a 2005 9.5-cent gas tax hike.
Meghan Soptich, spokeswoman for the state Department of Transportation
Ask us about traffic
Have a question about traffic or street rules around Snohomish and Island counties? We can help find an answer. E-mail Street Smarts at stsmarts@ heraldnet.com.
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